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Cass County authorities charge Dent, Minn., woman for lying about being kidnapped

FARGO - Prosecutors are charging a Dent, Minn., woman with a misdemeanor of providing false information to law enforcement in connection with a fake report about being kidnapped earlier this month.

Police found inconsistencies with the story Deborah Monson gave them on April 8 after she reported that she was abducted at knifepoint in Moorhead and taken to Fargo and raped.

Last Friday, Fargo police asked Cass County prosecutors to charge the 25-year-old woman, saying her lies wasted manpower and led to the arrest of Joshua J. Kraft.

Kraft is still facing drug paraphernalia charges in connection with two search warrants served on his residence following Monson’s complaint to police. Prosecutors said last week he would not be charged with kidnapping or rape.

Kraft told The Forum last week that he and Monson had consensual sex and she arrived on her own to his residence.

The reported attack came less than a week after a kidnapping and unsuccessful attempted rape resulted in Vincent Degidio Jr. being shot by officers in an armed confrontation in Moorhead.

It’s uncommon for someone to falsely report an incident similar to a recent actual crime, but it happens, according to Fargo police Sgt. Jeff Skuza.

Monson is facing a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in jail.

Prosecutors sent out a news release this afternoon saying that the decision to charge Monson is based on a unique set of circumstances, adding victims of crimes are encouraged to make reports to law enforcement.

Extensive investigation was done by Fargo and Moorhead police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the release said.